Coke oven door



Nov. 27, 1956 F. DOLL com: OVEN noon 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1952 mim f fw? Nov. 27, 1956 F. DOLL 2,772,226

COKE OVEN Doon Filed April '25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nga United States Patent O COKE OVEN DOOR Franz Doll, Essen, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1952, Serial No. 284,281

8 Claims. (Cl. 202-248) 'I'he present invention relates to means for producing or controlling the closure pressure exerted on coke oven doors or the like through latching means by a gaseous or liquid pressure medium.

To obtain a proper sealing of the diiferent doors of coke ovens it is necessary to individually apply the sealing ribs, anges or the like of each door against the door frame of the oven mouth of the individual oven chambers with a pressure which invariably remains uniform on each resealing of the oven doorway, the sealing pressure of which varies from chamber to chamber and so must be individualized to the oven chambers because they are integral compartments of a battery. In addition to the usual latching of the door of each oven chamber individually by rotation of bolts carrying the latches, whereby these latches are individually applied against hooks individually connected to the masonry of the oven, means also have been furnished for producing the uniform pressure through the agency of springs disposed between the door and the latches. In such spring sealing arrangements it is necessary, when the door of each chamber is to be unfastened, lirst to compress the individual oven chamber closure springsrsomewhat so that the latches individual thereto can be moved away from their hooks which are seated in the masonry against which the door seats` This compression of the springs for unsealing can be effected by a gaseous or liquid pressure medium which acts on the springs, through a diaphragm or a piston, until the latches of the ovens have been individually pivoted.

It has, furthermore, been proposed to set up the uni-1, form closure pressure for sealing the doors by a gaseous or liquid pressure medium acting continuously against the door.

It is an object of the present inventionrto produce an automatic, and sealed coupling of the pressure medium connection to latching means of the form in which the required uniform closure' pressure for such individual oven chamber doors, yis produced by a compression device operated by a gaseous or liquid pressure medium.

A further object of the invention relates to a device operable with those oven doors where the closure pressure is produced by compression springs arranged between the door latches and door body, and is aimed at compressing the springs, to relieve the closure pressure, by means of a device to be operated by iluid pressure and that is elective for automatically coupling the pressure iuidV connection to the latching means in fluidtight fashion, thereby rendering it unnecessary to have pipes with unions for each oven door arranged along the oven battery.

In fulfilment of these objects, the present invention provides for the arrangement of the source of uid presp sure that is to operate the latches on the door-handling mechanism, which is conventionally adapted to be driven in front of the oven battery, and in the form` of a pressuregenerating device which is adapted to be connected with 2,772,226 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 ICC the latching means of the respective coke oven doors by pipe coupling means. In a preferred arrangement one pipe coupling only is provided for jointly serving the two latch-controlling devices of a door.

In accordance with a further feature of this invention, the pipe coupling is such that when the door handling mechanism is moved in the axial direction of the oven against the door of the latter and door-lifting claws of the handling mechanism engage lugs on the door for lifting the same, a coupling component on a pipe conduit on the door machine and connected to the pressure-generating device coacts automatically with another coupling component on a conduit means on the door and leading to the latching means, thereby to complete the make-up of the pipe-coupling from the pressure generating device to the latching means of the door.

To ensure a positive engagement of the coacting coupling components, even if not properly in register initially by the act of spotting the door machine, the component associated with the door handling mechanism is advantageously mounted on the latter by a form of cardan joint, for example by forming such a universal joint at the end of a part of a pipe section which is in turn connected to a pipe leading from the pressure-generating device and to the coupling component in question. Preferably one of the components has a conical or spherical head whilst the other component is correspondingly formed with a conical guideway.

ln pursuance of a further feature of the invention one of the components of the automatic pipe coupling includes a connection piece having therethrough a passageway of small cross-sectional area and a bellows of larger cross-section connected with this passageway and with the piping connected to the pressure generating device.

The coupling is then such that, when the two components are abutted together, the fluid pressure medium exerts, through the bellows, a pressure in opposite direction on an annular surface of the connection piece and another part of the coupling component on the door machine to maintain the abutting faces of the coupling components in sealed interengagement.

By still another feature of the present invention, this continuous pressure of one Acoupling component against the other can be further ensured by arranging for the pressure exerted on the connection piece of the one coupling component to be simultaneously applied to claws which surround the conical or spherical head on the other component and exert a pull thereon in the opposite direction towards the point of junction.

By a still further feature of this invention the pressuregenerating device on the door-handling mechanism comprises a compressor which is connected to an automatically-filling pressure accumulator. By this means the pressure generating device is always primed for operation at any time, so that it is only necessary for the operator to open a control cock to bring the means of this invention into operating effect.

It is usual, when a coke oven door of the kind with which this invention is concerned is mounted in position in the oven door opening, to close the lower latching device rst, followed by the closure of the second upper latching device, in establishing the required closure pressure. This sequence of operation of the latching devices is of advantage in that it enables the necessary contact pressure to be obtained with certainty at the lower part of the door without excessive effort, and avoids unnecessary straining of the sealing means around the door perimeter. A further feature of the present invention resides in constructing and arranging the means for producing the closure pressure in such a way that the lower latching device is automatically operated rst, followed by the subsequent operation of the upper latching device.

As applied to means for producing the closure pressure of the coke oven door in which the pressure medium acts on the latching device as the sealing force during the time that the door is closed, this feature is carried into effect by arranging in the pressure medium conduit between the upper and lower latching devices a pressure delay valve which is so constructed that, when latching takes place, the pressure medium rst passes to the lower device and only gradually to the upper latching device.

This feature can correspondingly be carried into effect in the case of apparatus in which the closure pressure is exerted by force of spring means and the pressure uid is used to relieve this spring pressure for unlatching purposes. In this event, the pressure delay valve incorporated in the pressure medium conduit between the upper and lower latching devices is so constructed that, when latching takes place, the pressure medium is irst exhausted from the lower latching device and only gradually from the upper device.

The pressure delay valve referred to may, for example, comprise a throttle member (for example a ball) and this member, and/ or at least one uid flow opening against which it is adapted to be pressed, be recessed so as to allow the passage of a greater quantity of pressure medium in one direction of flow than in the opposite direction.

The interspace for passing an appropriate quantity of pressure medium per unit time can be formed in the pressure delay valve by a recess or recesses at the inflow and/or outflow openings or ports. It is also possible, however, to furnish such recesses in the throttle member, for example when the latter is in the form of a piston.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the door-closed end of a coke oven chamber illustrating the door handling mechanism arranged in front of the same.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the pipe coupling employed.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the coupling taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged illustration of a pressure controlling valve which is advantageously used in this invention.

As will be observed from Figure 1, the end of the oven chamber is denoted 1, and a door 2 is seen inserted therein with its sealing flange 3 pressed against the door frame 4 surrounding the door opening in the oven chamber.

Closure pressure against the door frame 4 is applied by means of latches 5 disposed at the upper and lower parts of the door and each pivotally mounted on a latch bolt 6. In the closed position of the door, the latches S are engaged behind hooks (not shown in the drawing) connected to the door frame 4.

A door-handling mechanism generally denoted is adapted to be propelled along the front of the oven battery, and for this purpose, as conventional, has wheels 9 running on rails 8 on the operating bench 7. This door-handling mechanism 10 includes a vertical beam 11 carrying levers which are mounted on pivots 12 on the beam and which are of claw-form at their door ends 13.

With the parts arranged as illustrated in Figure l, the claws 13 engage in lugs 14 on the door. The levers 15 are interconnected by a link and lever system 16 so as to be operable in unison from a driving means 18 through a lever 17.

In the embodiment illustrated it is assumed that housings 19 and 19a, disposed between the body 2 of the door and the latches 5 contain closure springs which normally exert a uniform pressure against the body of the door and latches 5. When, however, the door is to be released, this closure pressure has to be relieved by compression of the springs to permit pivoting of the latches 5.

To this end diaphragms or pistons are arranged in each housing and are arranged to be operable to take the spring pressure of the latches 5, when they are operated by a pressure medium, for example, compressed air. Such compressed air diaphragms or pressure pistons are in communication with pipes 20 which are interconnected in a conduit 21 both of which are stationary on the door. Conduit 21 leads to a stationary coupling component or male part 41 secured to the metal plate of the door body 2. As can be seen from Figure 2, the coupling part 41 has a head 22 of spherical formation, and a passage 23 of.

small cross-sectional area passes through the part 41, and its head 22 and is dedicated to the throughflow of the pressure medium.

Arranged on a platform 25 of a further vertical beam 24 of the door-handling mechanism .10 is a compressor 26 which is connected through a pipe 27 with a compressed air container 28. A pipe 29 leads from the compressed air container 28 to a but movable further coupling component or female part 30 which is connected by a form of cardan joint 31 to beam 11. A pressure regulating valve 32 and a three-way cock 33 are arranged in the pipe 29, and connection between the cardan joint 31 and the female coupling part 30 is made by a pipe 35 which is surrounded by a spring 36, guided in a cylinder 34, serving to hold the coupling part 30 properly centered.

As is apparent from Figures 2 and 3, the movable coupling part 30 comprises a cylindrical casing 37 closed at one end by a plate 38 having an opening for the insertion of the pipe 35. At its other end the cylindrical casing 37 is furnished with a cover 39 having an opening 40 large enough to permit the passage therethrough of the spherical head 22 of the stationary coupling part 41. The opening 40 is flared conically outwards to form a guideway. Connected uid tightly to the closure plate 38 is a multiple diaphragm or bellows 42, which, at its other end, is united in sealed fashion to a plate 43 by communication of bellows 42 with pipe 35. This plate 43 is of rectangular shape and is located with its longitudinal edges between two plates 44 firmly connected to the cover 3S. v

Screwed into the plate 43 is a connection conduit piece 45 having a small-diameter bore 46 and an enlarged end 47 for connecting passage 33 with bellows 42. This end 47 of connection piece 45 forms the movable coupling end which bears against the head 22 of the other stationary coupling part 41, and the connection piece 45 is provided with an inward depression of conical shape conforming to the spherical shape of the head 22, and with a soft packing 48, for example of rubber or the like.

Pivotally supported on bolts 50 between the two longitudinal plates 44 are claws 49 which are of semicircular shape in cross section, these bolts 50 passing through apertures 51 in the two plates 44. The ends of the claws 49 are of such formation that when the coupling is made, they partly embrace the spherical head 22. In the coupled condition the two claws 40 are disposed in the respective positions indicated in dotted lines by reason of the pressure exerted thereon by the expanded bellows 42 when ypressure uid is applied to line 35.

Incorporated in Ithe conduit 20 between the upper and lower latching housings or devices 19 and 19a is a pressure delay valve 60 which is seen in more particularity in Figure 4. This valve 60 comprises a cylindrical housing 61 in each end of which is screwed a threaded double nipple 62. The corresponding pipe ends of conduit 20 are connected up to the double nipples with the aid of sleeves 63. rl`he lower end of the upper nipple 62 projecting into the housing 61 is furnished with recesses 64, preferably arranged cross-wise. The upper end of the lower nipple 62 projecting into housing 61 has, in contrast, a vsingle recess 65 of small depth.

Arranged within the housing 61 is a ball 66 of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the housing. When the latch is unfastened, that is to say whencompressed f air is supplied to the two latching devices 19 and 19a for y y"the piii'jrose of empiesnsin'g the springs to `release-,the latches, the ball 66 is forced upwards in housing A61. The compressed Iair can, however, pass through the recesses 64 'of larger depth, without substantial loss in pressure, and through conduit '20 to the upper latching device 19, so that `the compression of the closure ksprings of the two llatching devices takes place practically simultaneously, or the springs of the lower latching device are compressed y'slightly in advance of tho-se of the upper device.

When the door is latched, lin order to exert pressure on `the ylower part of the door first, the compressed airmust exhaust from the lower latching device 19a first. This is effected opening of the three-way cock 33. Thereupon the ballz 66 is applied against'the end of the lower nipple 62, which projects into the housing 61, so that the com- -pressed air presentin Athe. upper latching Vdevice 19 can only gradually escape through the recess 65 at the upper end of the lower nipple. By this means it is ensured that the compression spring of the lower latching device 19a, from which the compressed air exhausts rapidly, rst of iall exerts full pressure on the lower device 19a, followed 'subsequently by that full pressure from the springs of the upper latching device 19. l

In the case of latching devices in which the closure yfpr'esslre lis exerted force of a uid pressure medium acting on the latching means during the period of closure fof the door, the arrangement of 'recesses y64 and 65 in 'nipples 62 is correspondingly reversed, that is to say the compressed air must first be applied to the lower latching device 19a to produce the closure pressure, the ball 66 `which serves as a throttle member or body being pressed sagainst the nipple having the recess65, so that the supply to'fcornpressed air only takes -place gradually to the upper latching device `19.

When the oven door is to be'removed, the door-handling 'itscarrir frame in the'direct'ion of the oven axis towards 'the door 2. The door raising claws 13 are brought into engagement with the door lugs 14 by starting up the drive means 18. While this procedure is being carried out the head 47 of movable connection piece 45 is applied against the spherical head 22 of the stationary coupling part 41, within casing 30, as indicated in Figure 2 by the forward movement of the carrier frame 1'1.

The three-way cock 33 is now opened, enabling compressed air to pass from container 28 through the coupling and the two pipe connections 20 to the latchingtcontrol ydevices 19, 19a. The air pressure is so regulated by the valve 32 that the springs in the housings 19 are fcompressed to a certain degree releasing their pressure ion the latches 5. As a result the latches Iare loosened :and can be pivoted from their hooks.

Thereafter the three-way cock 33 can be closed to container 28, thus opening the line to the coupling device -to the atmosphere and thus enabling the compressed air to escape from the diaphragms or pistons in the latching fdevices 19, 19a through the three-way cock to atmosphere. The 4door can then, after being raised, be with- :drawn and orientated by means of the vertical beam 11.

If, when the lifting means is applied against the oven :door 2 the head 22 of the tubular coupling part 41 is not exactly centered relatively to the coupling part 457 this :spherical head 22 abuts against the conical surface 53 of 'cover 39 and tilts casing 37 about cardan joint 31 until head 22 is thereby guided into a centralised position against the head 47 of the connection piece 45 of the other coupling part.

When the cock 33 is opened to container 28 and compressed air ows through the passages 23 and 46 of the coupling part 41 and connection piece 45 respectively, :such air exerts a pressure in the bellows 42 against the annular surface 54 between the bellows Iand the passage 46. This pressure acts on the connection piece 45 to apply the packing ring 48 of the latter iiwardly the conical coupling head `2,2. In addition the pressure acts on the rounded edges 52 of the claw-form parts 49, whereby the leading ends of these claws embracing the spherical coupling head 22 also serve to press force on the latter firmly outwardly in a direction against the packing 4S of connection piece 45.

To produce the sealing pressure force in lthe latchingcontrol devices 19, 19a by compressed air only and'through the agency of diaphragms or piston means arranged in these devices, a non-return valve or an |additional cut-olf member must be incorporated in or behind the: coupling part 41 to hold the iiuid pressure thereinduringdoor Isealing until released again for removal of the door for discharge of coke from the rest of its oven chamber.-

What I claim is:

l. Apparatus for sealing and unsealing coke oven doors comprising: la coke oven door having locking means in the form of two upper and lower latching devices for coaction with door-holding means and compression spring means individual thereto to exert the closure prsure, for exertion `of closure pressure between the door and the door-holding means, and for release of said closure pressure for unlocking the door; separate uid pressureoperated means operable on the respective latching devices for effecting spring compression operation of the same; a source of fluid pressure for actuating said fluid pressureoperated means; a coupling between the source of fluid pressure and the Huid pressure-operated vmeans of both said latching devices, and a pressure delay valve to control the fluid flow to and from one of the Viluid pressureoperated devices, said valve being so constructed that, when latching takes place, the pressure medium first exhausts from the iiuid-pressure-operated device of the lower latching device and only gradually from that of the upper latching device, for the purpose of releasing the compression spring means to allow vthe same tol seal the door.

2. Apparatus according to claim l, characterised in that the pressure delay valve comprises a throttle member, and at least one iiuid flow opening to allow the passage cf a greater quantity of pressure medium in one direction of flow than in the opposite direction.

3. Apparatus for sealing and unsealing coke oven doors comprising: coke oven door having door machine-engaging means for engagement by a door machine for removal and replacement of the door relative to a seat therefor, locking means on said door for coaction with door holding means therefor for exertion of closure pressure between the door and the door holding means and for release of such closure pressure for unlocking of the door, fluid pressure-operated means on the locking means for effecting one of said operations of the latter relative to said door holding means, a door machine positionable in front of said door and having a door supporting member movable toward and from the door for engagement with the door machine engagement means on the door, a source of fluid pressure on the door machine for actuating the fluid pressure operated means of the locking means on the door and a coupling between the source of uid pressure on the door machine and the fluid pressure operated means on the door comprising two separable component parts, one component part being stationarily mounted on the door and having a passage therethrough and a line connection therefrom to the fluid pressure operated device on the door, and the other component part being mounted on the movable door supporting member on the door machine and in position thereon to automatically abut, in fluid transfer relation, with the component part on the door, when the door supporting member on the door machine is in position to engage the door machine engaging means on the door, upon movement of the door supporting member toward the door, said other component part on the door machine having a passage therethrough to register with the passage in the component part on the door, solely by said abutting relation, and having a line connection from its passage to the source of tluid pressure on said door machine, for supply of uid pressure from said door machine to the passage in the component part on the door for delivery therefrom to the uid pressure operated means for the locking means on the door. Y

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, -and in which one of said two separable component parts of the coupling is conically ared at one end thereof for reception of an entering cooperating member of the other component part to effect self centering of the two separable component parts when brought into abutting engagement.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 3, in which one of said two separable component parts includes a connection piece movable therein and having a small diameter passage therethrough, and a bellows passage of relatively large diameter connected to the small diameter passage, and both constituting a portion of the line conduit from the pressure source to the iluid pressure operated means on the door, when the two component parts of the coupling are brought into mutual abutment, said connection piece being movable into tighter sealing relation with the other component part by a counter pressure exerted on the connecting piece by expansion of the bellows by the pressure medium therein after the initial abutment of the two component parts.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 5, and which includes mechanical means in the component part containing the bellows arranged in said component part, to

simultaneously transmit the pressure, exerted on the connection piece by the bellows, onto the other component part in a direction opposite the direction of abutting engagement of the connection piece with said other part.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6, and in which said mechanical means comprises pivoted claws which surround and engage a curvilinear head on the leading end of the other coupling component part at a region to -8 oppose separation of the two component parts while under uid pressure.

8. Apparatus for sealing and unsealing coke oven doors comprising: a coke oven door having locking means in the form of -two upper and lower latching devices for coaction with door holding means, for exertion of closure pressure between the door and the door holding means, and for release of said closure pressure for unlocking the door; separate fluid pressure-operated means operable on the respective latching devices for effecting operation of the same; Ia source of fluid pressure for actuating said fluid pressure-operated means; a coupling between the source of fluid pressure and the fluid pressure-operated means of both said latching devices, and a pressure delay valve to control the uid flow in a line to and from one of the Huid pressure operated means for each of said latching devices, said valve being one operable to pass the iluid pressure therethrough gradually to the upper latching device relative to the ow to the lower latching device so that the flow of uid pressure reaches the lower latching device first.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 931,267 Burt Aug. 17, 1909 1,425,635 Dod Aug. 15, 1922 1,849,417 Bassett Mar. 15, 1932 2,157,567 Potter May 9, 1939 2,190,297 Salkvist Feb. 13, 1940 2,299,916 McIntire Oct. 27, 1942 2,400,817 Fox et al May 21, 1946 2,519,770 Kramer Aug. 22, 1950 2,538,089 Paton Jan. 16, 1951 2,578,517 Davis Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,196 Germany Oct. 17, 1930 520,254 Germany Mar. 9, 1931 619,021 Great Britain Mar. 2,'1949 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEALING AND UNSEALING COKE OVEN DOORS COMPRISING: A COKE OVER DOOR HAVING LOCKING MEANS IN THE FORM OF TWO UPPER AND LOWER LATCHING DEVICES FOR COACTION WITH DOOR-HOLDING MEANS AND COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS INDIVIDUAL THERETO TO EXERT THE CLOSURE PRESSUREFOR EXERTION OF CLOSURE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR-HOLDING MEANS, AND FOR RELEASE OF SAID CLOSURE PRESSSURE FOR UNLOCKING THE DOOR; SEPARATE FLUID PRESSUREOPERATED MEANS OPAEABLE ON THE RESPECTIVE LATCHING DEVICES FOR EFFECTING SPRING COMPRESSION OPERATION OF THE SAME; A SOURCE OF FLUID PRESSURE FOR ACTUATING SAID FLUID PRESSUREOPERATED MEANS; A COUPLING BETWEEN THE SOURCE OF FLUID PRESSURE AND THE FLUID PRESSURE-OPERATED MEANS OF BOTH SAID LATCHING DEVICES, AND A PRESSURE DELAY VALVE TO CONTROL THE FLUID FLOW TO AND FROM ONE OF THE FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED DEVICES, SAID VALVE BEING SO CONSTRUCTED THAT, WHEN LATCHING TAKE PLACE, THE PRESSURE MEDIUM FIRST EXHAUSTS FROM THE FLUID-PRESSURE-OPERATED DEVICE OF THE LOWER LATCHING DEVICE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RELEASING THE UPPER LATCHING DEVICE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RELEASING THE COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS TO ALLOW THE SAME TO SEAL THE DOOR. 